AQUARIUS(January 20 - February 18) You'll be angry if those you live with aren't pulling their weight. You can come into money; however, perhaps not under the best circumstances. You can make changes to your living quarters, but not everyone will be pleased with your efforts.

CAPRICORN(December 22 - January 19) Social activities that involve the whole family will be enjoyable. Don't let your emotions interfere with moneymaking deals. Your talent will be recognized.

CANCER(June 21 - July 22) Be careful while traveling. Have a heart-to-heart talk with family and find out what the problems are. If possible, rely on coworkers to back your objectives, and talk to superiors in order to get approval.

LEO(July 23 - August 22) Chances are you could get stuck with a colleague's job unexpectedly. The personal problems you may be having are interfering with your productivity. Put all your energy into moneymaking ventures.

PISCES(February 19 - March 20) You can ask for favors or run your ideas by those who will be able to support your objectives. You will enjoy getting together with friends. You will have to be careful not to fall into traps set by jealous colleagues.

GEMINI(May 21 - June 20) You will be able to borrow money in order to invest. You would be best to work late in order to avoid such disharmony. You will want to take off and have some recreation.

TAURUS(April 20 - May 20) You may feel that someone at work is holding you back. You can make a serious attempt at quitting those bad habits that you've picked up over the years. Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis.

SAGITTARIUS(November 22 - December 21) If you can't trust someone, question the connection. Your ability to communicate with ease will win the hearts of those you are in touch with today. You can offer your help to others but back off if they appear to be offended by your persistence.

SCORPIO(October 23 - November 21) You should sign up for creative courses. Concentrate on your work. Jealous coworkers may try to sabotage your attempts to get ahead. Take care of the needs or responsibilities of elders.

LIBRA(September 23 - October 22) You will gain new friends if you get involved in environmental issues. Do something special for them. Do not jump to conclusions concerning your romantic partner.

VIRGO(August 23 - September 22) Business trips will be more productive than trying to fight the red tape facing you. Things are looking good for you, so open your eyes and get to it. Changes in your residence may be financially favorable.

ARIES(March 21 - April 19)Abrupt changes in your home may send you for a loop. Include friends and family members in your redecorating plans. Losses are likely if you aren't careful where you leave your valuables.

what is incense?

Someone, anyone. Who ever is reading this thank you. I just wanted to ask a question. What is incense and how do you use it? My mom got some at a voodoo shop and new Orleans and was asking me about it.

The low quality stuff is more often than not just enough charcoal (charred wood type of charcoal, most often) to sustain an ember. The scent in the cheap stuff is often a synthetic scent oil or powder, poured over or mixed in the medium.

Higher quality incense has a better charcoal content, and will have more natural aromatic ingredients, even if those ingredients happen to be essential oils in some cases. But more often, wood scents (such as sandalwood) will be actual powdered wood; herbal or spice scents will be the actual herbs or spices, floral scents will be dehydrated and powdered petals (though this is also where some essential oils will come into play), and there may be actual resins mixed with the medium.

So what is incense and how is it made?

Stick and cone incense is made when all of the materials are mixed together with water to form a paste called dhoop in India. I do not know the different terms for the stick type, but cone incense from India is often called dhoop cones, as it is formed of just the paste in stead of being applied around a stick. The paste is formed, and allowed to dry thoroughly. It has enough of a base medium to sustain an ember and slowly burn the aromatic component.

There are, of course, other types of incense. There is a powdered type, made to sustain an ember, but it remains a powder. These are used mainly in dishes full of sand or ash. A stamp is sometimes used, but no matter; a trench is created for the incense powder. One end is ignited, and the ember slowly burns to the other end.

Another type of incense is loose incense, which does not sustain its own ember. It is added in small amounts atop a burning coal. The mass-produced coals which are called self-igniting are impregnated with an ignition agent, typical saltpeter. It is not safe to breathe the smoke from this during the lighting process. Some people will use am ember from a fire, or something like bamboo charcoal. The latter options are either more involved to acquire (having a fire with quality of fuel and time burning enough to have embers to use) or more expensive (in the case of bamboo charcoal) than the self-igniting discs.

One more type of incense is simply using a dry stick of aromatic wood, such as palo santo or sandalwood. An end is lit, typically with a candle, and the stick is tilted to establish an ember. The not-lit end is pressed into a base, such as a small dish of sand, and the ember slowly smoulders down the wood.

I forgot to add that the low-quality incense typically has a lot of filler, such as paper pulp. The cellulose will help sustain the ember, but it will certainly affect the scent.

So use of incense: The only type I did not describe use is the dhoop-based incense, the most common type which is sold as sticks or cones. One end is lit ether just enough to ignite an ember, or enough to catch fire. The fire is extinguished, and the incense smoulders. Tradition or belief may dictate whether the flame is doused, blown out, or allowed to go out on its own.

In magic and mystic practices, incense fills a variety of symbolic roles. Some religions teach that the smoke carries prayers to the gods. It's also used to represent the element air. The specific scent can be used for its particular correspondence in whatever work a person is doing.

Ah! And before I forget, there's another type of similar item which I do not personally consider incense, but it is also used while smouldering, and in some mystic practices: smudge sticks. Smudging is the use of a bundle of herbs, lit at one end, and extinguished to smoulder. There are many practices which now incorporate smudging.

In years long ago, incense was more valuable than diamonds. It is now very cheap to buy, and is the only incense I use, the two listed below.. Just to show you how valuable those two types of incense were, remember the story of the "three wise men" who brought the most valuable gifts in the world to the baby Jesus;-
Gold; Frankincense; and Myrrh.